Contentment with modest wealth

Chapter 252 The Integrity of a Powerful Minister

The hoarse growl was so impactful that Jiang looked away.

Lu Ying sat down in front of her again and grabbed her arm: "Don't you feel guilty towards me?"

Jiang gritted her teeth: "Then what do you want me to do?!"

"I just want to know, what did you mean by what you said earlier about my sister's mother?"

Jiang was suddenly stunned. She looked up and saw that Lu Ying had already leaned in front of her, her eyes as deep as an abyss.

"Is the incriminating evidence you have that the Yan family risked their lives to murder your sister's mother?"

Jiang pushed her away: "Why are you asking?"

"You don't need to know what I'm doing, just tell me, do you have any more evidence?"

"Who told you that?!" Madam Jiang shouted sternly. "Who sent you to ask this?!"

“How could anyone ask me to ask?” Lu Ying sat up straight. “It’s just that any one of these things that have been exposed recently is enough to shake the capital. Since you keep saying that it’s all for my sake, but when it comes down to it you always say that only I can save you, then why keep it from me?”

Chiang was speechless.

Lu Ying looked past her and at the window behind her: "You knew about your background when you were very young, and then you carefully planned your way up to become the wife of the Lu family. The Yan family has done so many things that violated the law. You used an old matter from fifteen years ago to blackmail them. How could you not try to find a way to keep evidence?"

She lowered her eyes, her gaze returning to Jiang's face: "They want to kill you, they must have guessed that you have evidence."

Jiang's lips were pale, and her wide-open eyes were indescribably empty.

Lu Ying placed her hands on her arms again: "Just as you said, no one will protect me anymore, and the same goes for you."

"I'm going to the Yan family in two days. Once I leave, your fate will be even more unpredictable. Now that things have come to this, why don't you tell me the whole story?"

"Compared to you, at least I still have the status of the young mistress of the Yan family!"

Jiang's chest heaved: "Didn't I already say that Cheng's death is related to the Qi family?"

Who are the Qi family?

"He was bribed by the Yan family; he was Lu Jie's old classmate."

Under the lamplight, Jiang spoke in a low voice, recounting those distant details that she had never forgotten.

Lu Ying's expression went from tense to surprised, then to serious, until Jiang's voice stopped for a long time before she raised her head again.

"Where is she now?" she asked.

Jiang sneered: "Naturally, it's in a place where no one but me can find it!"

"Even Guo Lu doesn't know?"

Why should he know about this?

Upon hearing Guo Lu's name, Jiang became angry again.

Lu Ying nodded subtly, then stood up.

Jiang also stood up: "What do you plan to do after you go to the Yan family?"

Lu Ying stopped, took a slow breath, and looked down at the secluded courtyard outside the door: "I haven't decided yet."

……

The marriage between the Lu and Yan families was still ongoing and had entered its most crucial phase. Without Lu Jie saying anything, everyone in the Lu household would keep quiet about what happened last night. However, the matter of Jiang's murder of her stepdaughter could not be concealed no matter what. As soon as the various government offices opened early in the morning, whispers could be heard.

Since Shen Bo took over, the Ministry of War was originally the most serious and prudent department. However, since the person involved was the future eldest daughter-in-law of the Shen family who had already been betrothed, how could people keep quiet?
After reading several official documents, Shen Bo finally couldn't sit still any longer, picked up his ceremonial crown, and went into the palace as noon approached.

Fortunately, the emperor did not practice today; in fact, he was reading in the small garden.

Shen Bo presented the battle reports from the southeastern coast that he had brought with him, then bowed and stood aside awaiting instructions.

After reading it, the emperor said, "Everyone says that Grand Secretary Yan is getting old, but I don't think he's getting any senility. This Hu Yucheng is a good candidate for recommendation."

Shen Bo said, "I dare to ask whether Hu Yucheng's name could be added to the list of those awarded during the Emperor's birthday celebration?"

The emperor asked, "Where is the list?"

Shen Bo also presented the list.

After reading it, the emperor raised an eyebrow: "Why is there not a single name of the soldiers who pacified the Northwest? I remember that some generals did not return for half a year."

Shen Bo bowed slightly: "Since returning from the Northwest, all the officials have already received imperial favor. Even those who returned later have received other rewards. This time, we should not add any more names to the list."

The emperor turned to look at him and suddenly chuckled: "You are a Grand Commandant and the Minister of War, who wields great power. Your cautiousness and timidity suggest that you are afraid of the emperor."

Shen Bo immediately stood at attention and said, "Your subject dares not!"

The emperor glanced at him again, then picked up the book again.

Shen Bo paused for a moment, then said, "I have something to say, but I don't know whether I should or shouldn't."

"Speak," the emperor said without even lifting his eyelids.

"Yesterday, the capital was abuzz with rumors that the wife of Lu Jie, the Minister of Revenue, was plotting to murder her stepdaughter. And this stepdaughter of Madam Lu was none other than the niece of Chen Wenhui, the censor whom the Emperor had previously betrothed to my son Qingzhou..."

Only then did the emperor glance at him.

Shen Bo lowered his head: "This Madam Lu is the adopted daughter of Grand Secretary Yan, and recently, it was rumored that she is also Grand Secretary Yan's biological daughter. The Yan family has not refuted this so far. I believe that Madam Lu's behavior is malicious, and the Yan family has also failed in its duties."

The emperor asked, "So you're going to sue Yan Song?"

Shen Bo lowered his head and said, "Whether she is his biological daughter or his adopted daughter, Grand Secretary Yan, as her father, has the responsibility to discipline her. Since His Majesty has bestowed Miss Lu upon the Shen family as his daughter-in-law, I cannot help but stand up and seek justice for her."

The emperor looked down at him for a moment, then slammed the book down and said with a smile, "You, you've finally shown me some backbone as a high-ranking official!"

……

As Shen Bo walked out of the palace gate, Yan Song had just entered. The two exchanged a glance across the vast palace grounds before heading off in their own directions.

As he was leaving and mounting his horse, Lu Jie hurriedly approached. The two in-laws happened to meet face to face, but neither of them uttered a sound.

The Imperial Astronomical Bureau has set a wedding date: April 15th is an auspicious day. There are still two months left, just enough time to prepare intensively.

Just as Shen Qingzhou received the betrothal gift list from Song En in the Bibo Pavilion, He Qu strode in: "Young Master, good news!"

The two people beside the desk looked over at the same time.

He Qu beamed: "The Grand Commandant had just left the palace when the Emperor summoned both that old scoundrel Yan and Lord Lu and gave them a good scolding. It's said that the reprimands could be heard even outside the Imperial Garden!"
"Old scoundrel Yan was cursed even more fiercely!"

"The Emperor said that he was too old to control his crotch and allowed his illegitimate daughter to plot against the legitimate eldest daughter of the Lu family. Moreover, knowing that the eldest daughter of the Lu family had been betrothed to the Shen family, Jiang still allowed Guo Lu to run to the Shuntian Prefecture and make a scene. This is clearly a violation of the law!"

"His Majesty has ordered that old scoundrel Yan to return to his residence and reflect on his actions for three days!"